Loose-leaf binder



F. SUTHERLAND.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23. 1919.

1,342,833. Patented June 8, 1920.

- 2 SHEETSSHEET l- FEE. FEE- W gIIVI/ZZTOR ATTORNEYS ,4 TTOR/VEVS 0 7 m 2 Z 4 0 J R 2 6 94/ 4 3 1 d 0 m x; 4 To A 4} Li 6 3 WW m 0, u V 00 in L n N m w.- a WD Z 3 9 m V: n TVB w a P UNITED STATES FRANK SUTHERLAND, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed January 23, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK SUTHERLAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to'loose leaf binding devices of the type or class commonly referred to as ring binders, and in which a plurality of pairs of cooperating half rings spaced apart from one another and the free ends of which pairs engage, to thereby form complete rings,,may be opened or separated to permit sheets of paper having holes spaced to correspond with the distance between the pairs of half rings to be properly put in place, after which and upon the closing of the rings the said sheets will be held in place in much the same manner as the leaves of a book. I

The object of my invention is to provide an improved loose leaf ring binder which is more simple in construction, and which is formed by the use of a less number of elements or parts, than'has heretofore been the case; whereby a binder is provided which may be readily and cheaply manufactured and assembled, whichwill be less likely to get out of order, because of the reduction in number of the parts thereof, than has been the case with prior binders, and which will be neat in appearance and effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and other objects of invention in view, my invention consists in the improved loose leaf binder illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and particularly claimed, and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a view showing my improved binder in plan, with portions thereof broke away to better show other parts;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the principal operating parts thereof in plan, the casing or cover which mcloses the mechanism thereof havlng beenremoved;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 8, 1920.

Serial No. 272,613.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a section upon a plane indicated by the line 3, 3, Fig. 2 with the cover in place;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the two cooperating half rings of a pair of half rings in end elevation, the view being a section taken upon a plane indicated by the line 4, 4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ring operating mechanism of my invention;

. Fig. 6'is a view similar to Figfl, but showing my invention modified as to certain of the elements thereof;

Fig. 7 is a view showing the operating elements of this form of my invention in plan;

Fig. 8 is a view showing a section taken upon a plane indicated by the line 8, 8, Fig. 6, with the cover in place, and

Fig. 9 is a view showing a section upon a plane indicated by the line 9, 9, Fig. 7.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive wherein the preferred form of my invention is illustrated, the reference numeral 10 designates a suitable supporting plate which carries the elements whereby the rings which hold the leaves in place are provided, and also the means for opening and closing the said rings to permit the insertion or removal of leaves; the said plate being secured to a back 11 having two covers 12 'connected therewith through flexible connections or hinges 13, to thereby provide a complete loose leafring binder of the type or class described.

Carried by the plate 10 and arranged parallel and alongside or adjacent one another are two oscillating rods 14, similar in form one to the other, and the ends of which are rotatably held to the plate 10 by any suitable means or device which will both hold the rods in proper relation one to the other, and permit the oscillatory movement thereof necessary to effect the opening and closing of the leaf holding rings of the binder. In the form of my invention illustrated the rods are held in place and at the same time permitted to oscillate by means of bands or clips 15 located adjacent the ends of the rods, and the outer side edges of-which are engaged by the half rings of the rods to thereby prevent them from moving along their axes, while at the same time permitting rotary or oscillating motion thereof; the ends of said clips extending through holes in the plate 10, and their extremities being bent over and made to lie against the under or rear surface of the plate, to thereby fasten the rods thereto, as will be understood from Fig. 1 of the drawing.

y The end portions of the rods 14, are so bent and shaped as to provide half rings, one at each end of each rod, designated by the reference numeral 16; and which half rings extend at right angles to the rods and lie in planes at right angles to the axes 1 thereof. The half rings of each rod are integral therewitlnas will be appreciated, and the free ends of the half rings of one rod engagewith the free ends of the half rings of the other rod to thereby provide two complete leaf holding rings located one at either end of the said oscillating rods, and capable of being opened and closed when leaves are to-be placed in the binder or rebers 17 arranged substantially parallel'with moved therefrom.

Theleaf holding rings formed by the.

cooperating pairs of half rings are operated by two reciprocating operating memone another, andthe outer ends of which are connected together by a loop 18 whereby the said members may be moved longitudinally of'the plate 10 and in unison; the

operating member or device thus provided being secured to the plate 10 and guided in its movements by a disk 19 through which a rivet 20 which holds one'end ofa cover plate 21 in place and the entire'ring mechanism to the back 11 extends, the other end of said cover plate and of the ring supporting plate 10 being secured to the back 11 by arivet 22. V I

The operating members above referred to are located adjacent one end of the plate 10, and they engage directly with and operate the pair of half ringswhich are located I closest to said members, the other and remote pair of half rings being operated through the oscillating rods 14,- as will be understood. I

The operating members 1'? are provided each with a cam portion or surface 23, which cams engage with the outer sides or surfaces of the half rings 16 near the place where'they join or merge with the rods '14- whereby they are carried, when said operating members are pushed inward, to there; by close both pairs of half rings by bringlng'thelr free ends into engagement. Said with a second cam portion 24, which portions are formed vby the inner sides of hooks 25' formed one at the end of each operating member; and which cam portions engage the inside portions or surfaces of the half rings aforesaid when said members are pulled outward to thereby open both pairs of half rings; all the halfrings of the binder being moved positively in both their opening and their closing movements in the form of my invention thus far described. The hooks 25 at the ends of the operating members 17 in addition to the function which they perform as operating cams for opening the half rings16, engage one with one and the other with the other of the pair 'of half rings which they operate, to thereby prevent the said oper ating members from'being entirely withdrawn from the binder as will be understood from Fig; 2; and'the cover 21 which prevents access to the operating mechanism of the device, and prevents the operation thereof from being interfered withby' the leaves held in thebinder, is provided with slots 26 through which the several half rings operate.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs, 6 to 9 the half rings 27 are formed integrally with oscillating rods 28 held to a plate-orsupport29 by clips 30;

these elements being the same in construe tion and operationias the like elementspresent in the form'of my invention illustrated in Figsl to 5 andhereinbefore described.

The means for *openlng and closing the pairs off half rings, however, are modified in the form of mylnvention shown in Flgs.

6 to 9; said means comprising two substantially parallel reciprocating members 31 carried by the plate 29 and located at one end thereof, as in the formof-my' invention first described, but which operating mem-- bers operate to close the pairs of half rings but not to open them; the opening movement of the said half rings being brought about by a spring secured to the plate 29 by a rivet 32 and a washer 33, and the free ends of the; two side portions 34 of which spring act one againstone and the other against the other of the pair of half rings which are located at the opposite end' of the binder from that at which the operating members 81 are located; the extremities of said-sides bearing against the inside of the half rings which they engage, as best shown in Fig. 7 and said spring tending always to open the rings, as will be understood; I I The ring operating members 81 are con: nected togetherby a loop 35 at their outer ends and which loop is adapted to beengaged by the fingers of the operator'in open-' ing or closing the rings; the inner ends of said members are guided by aclip 36'having depending sides, and which clip is spaced apart from the plate 29 by a suitable spacer 37; and sidewise movement of the outer ends of the said members is prevented by a ring or washer 38 surrounding the rivet '39 where is secured to the a by the end of the plate 29 back 40 of the binder. 4 V

The inner-free ends of the ring operating members are provided-eachwitha lug of the binder, the same as the hooks 25 in the'form of my invention illustrated in Figs.

1 to 5; and the inner extremities of said operating members are so shaped that they will slide easily in beneath the outer sides of the half rings which they operate, and

between said outer sides and the adjacent surface of the plate 29, and thus act as cams to close both pairs of half rings when the operating member as a whole is pushed inward; the engagement between the said inner ends and the half rings being at points close to where said rings join with the oscillating rods 28, as best shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9.

In the form of my invention here referred to the cover plate 42 instead of being securedin place by the same rivets which hold the ring mechanism as a whole to the back of the binder, is held in place by inwardly turned ledges 4L3 formed at the lower ends of the side walls of the cover plates; which ledges lie beneath the supporting plate 29 and hold the cover plate in place, and permit its removal more readily than is the case in the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, should it become necessary to remove the same to expose the ring mechanism, or for other purposes.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a loose leaf binder of the class described, a suitable supporting plate; two oscillating rods secured to said plate and arranged alongside one another, and the end portions of which are shaped to provide half rings integral with said rods and lying in planes at right angles to the axes thereof,

the half rings at the ends of each rod being so arranged that their free ends engage the half rings of the other rod to thereby provide two pairs of cooperating rings located one at each end of said oscillating rods; and two substantially parallel reciprocating operating members carried by and located at one end of said plate and connected together so as to move in unison, and the free ends of which members are provided each with two cam portions adapted to engage a half ring of the adjacent pair of half rings and operate the same positively in both its opening and closing movements.

2. In a loose leaf binder of the class described, a suitable supporting plate; two oscillating rods secured to said plate and arranged alongside one another, and the end portions of which are shaped to provide half rings integral with said rods and lying in planes at right angles to the axes thereof, the half rings at the ends of each rod being so arranged that their free ends engage the half rings of the other rod to thereby provide two pairs of cooperating rings located one at each end of said oscillating rods; two substantially parallel reciprocating operating members carried by and; located at one end of said plate and connected together so as to move in unison, and the free ends of which members engage one with one and the other with the other of the adjacent pair of cooperating half rings, to thereby operate the adjacent pair of rings by direct engagement with the half rings thereof, and the other and remote pair of half rings through and by means of said oscillating rods; and two hooks formed one at the free inner end of each of said operating members and which hooks act as stops to prevent said members from being separated from the remaining mechanism of the binder.

8. In a loose leaf binder of the class described, a suitable supporting plate; two oscillating rods secured to said plate and arranged alongside one another, and the end portions of which are shaped to provide half rings integral with said rods and lying in planes at right angles to the axes thereof, the half rings at the ends of each rod being so arranged that their free ends engage the half rings of the other rod to thereby provide two pairs of cooperating rings located one at each end of said oscillating rods; two substantially parallel reciprocating operating members carried by and located at one end of said plate and connected together so as to move in unison, and the free ends of which members are provided each with two cam portions adapted to engage a half ring of the adjacent pair of half rings and operate the same positively in both its opening and closing movements; one of the cam portions of each of said reciprocating members forming a hook and which hooks are adapted to engage the half rings which said members operate at the end of the outward movement of said mem bers, to thereby prevent the ring operating means from being separated from the remaining mechanism of the binder.

4. In a loose-leaf binder mechanism, a supporting plate, two oscillating rods rotatably mounted upon said plate and provided with cooperating half rings at their end portions, a member adapted to open and close said half rings, formed of wire and slidably secured to said supporting plate,

the one end of said operating member beengaging the external surface of, said half rings and adapted to forcibly olosethe same. 7,

5. A loose-leaf binder mechanism comprising a supporting plate, two oscillatingrods mounted upon said plate and provided at theirends with cooperating half rings, an operating member formed of wireslidably mounted upon said supporting plate and beneath the half rings, and adapted to force the same into closed position, and means for moving said half rings their open 15 tan, in the county of New York andastate of New York, this 17th day of January, A. D.'1919. t v I 1 FRANK, SUTHERLAND,

'Witnesses: 7 V a ANNE V. WALSH, Q l

R. N, FLINT. 

